Jeanne C. Mayer Multiple Sclerosis Research Award Grant

The Jeanne C. Mayer Multiple Sclerosis Research Award, funded by the Herbert R. Mayer and Jeanne C. Mayer Foundation in collaboration with the American Brain Foundation and the American Academy of Neurology, offers $150,000 over two years to support early career investigators in clinical research on multiple sclerosis. Eligible candidates include AAN members with a doctoral degree who completed their residency within the last five years, emphasizing patient-oriented research and innovative treatments.

Funded by the Herbert R. Mayer and Jeanne C. Mayer Foundation through the American Brain Foundation in collaboration with the American Academy of Neurology
This award aims to recognize the importance of good clinical research and to encourage early career investigators in clinical studies related to multiple sclerosis.
This award will consist of a commitment of $65,000 per year for two years, plus a $10,000 per year stipend to support education and research-related costs for a total of $150,000.

Eligibility

For the purpose of this scholarship, research is defined as “patient-oriented research conducted with human subjects, or translational research specifically designed to develop treatments or enhance diagnosis of neurological disease. These areas of research include epidemiologic or behavioral studies, clinical trials, studies of disease mechanisms, the development of new technologies, and health services and outcomes research.” Disease-related studies not directly involving humans or human tissue are also encouraged if the primary goal is the development of therapies, diagnostic tests, or other tools to prevent or mitigate neurological diseases.Recipient must be an AAN member interested in an academic career in neurological research with an MD, PhD, or equivalent doctoral-level clinical degree who has completed clinical residency or PhD no more than 5 years prior to the beginning of this award (July 1, 2026). If you have completed both residency and a PhD, your eligibility is based on when you completed residency. If you completed a fellowship of any kind after residency, your eligibility is still based on the date you finished residency.Applicants at accredited US and international institutions are eligible.Supplementation of the award with other grants is permissible, but to be eligible to apply for this award, the other grant source(s) cannot exceed $75,000 annually.The “equal or great dollar amount” restriction does not apply to money provided by your institution, only external sources.There are no visa requirements.You may apply for scholarships with the J-1 visa.We accept multiple applications from institutions. You may reapply the next year if you did not receive an award.Applicants must meet the required 70% protected research time.Patient care/clinical responsibilities is limited to 30% of your time. The funding is for direct costs only.Direct costs include salary, travel to research-related meetings, MRI/CT scans, participation costs, reimbursement for patients, equipment, fringe benefits, tuition, classes, publication costs, research-related personnel (research coordinator, data analysis staff, etc.).Multiple mentors are permitted.One primary mentor will need to be identified to handle administrative issues.You may mention multiple mentors in your research plan.
You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. Recipient must be an AAN member interested in an academic career in neurological research with an MD, PhD, or equivalent doctoral-level clinical degree who has completed clinical residency or PhD no more than 5 years prior to the beginning of this award (July 1, 2026).

Ineligibility

Advance Practice Providers (APPs) are not eligible to apply.Indirect costs are not covered.Indirect costs include facility and administrative costs and AAN/other neurological society membership dues.One cannot use the education/tuition component for salary support.The purpose of the award is training.